Kevin Michel definitely knows how to set priorities. “Racing is pretty high on the list, but my family comes even higher.” The 31-year-old Yamaha rider from Meggen, Switzerland, is skipping the IDM round at the Sachsenring. His best reason: the birth of his daughter, Mia Valentina. The little girl was born last weekend after an 18-hour marathon in the delivery room. “I wanted to be there and support my wife,” Michel explains. “My team, TGRT Racing e.V., my wife, and I had set a deadline. If the baby didn’t arrive by midnight on September 4, I wouldn’t go to the Sachsenring.” That’s exactly how it played out.
It remains to be seen whether Michel will compete in any more IDM Superstock 600 races this year. The points he lost in the standings due to missing one event this year can no longer be made up. “The races at the Lausitzring and Hockenheim are therefore up in the air. We’ll discuss this internally again,” Michel said, though he hasn’t quite ruled out the possibility yet.